neighbourhood festival

I noticed a new pavement shop on our walkers path two days back. It sold maps, globes of all sizes. I was wondering what is the sudden interest for multicoloured globes and maps in our area. Soon i found out that the penultimate day of the velankanni festival is just round the corner. Yes, i did see more shops as we walked along;as though they have all of a sudden sprung up from the ground.More carts were rolling in; multi coloured bangles in plastic and glass;plastic toys some of which pop out suddenly when the kid is trying blowing it in your face.One shop was actually selling honeycombs!Yes, and he was saying a piece of it will cure every ailment from body pain to diabetes!Eateries were doing brisk business and so were 'pakeet' water. I am told that the devotees actually camp on the beach sands during the night, and trek back in the morning.Elliots beach is a strict no-no that morning, amma tells me.The entire place will be having litter all over and will take the better part of a day of cleaning and removing rubbish.
Narikorava families were spread all over with their paasi mani and pavazha mani.Some of them were hanging the chains in very decorative patterns. I was reminded of fruit shops which decorate their front area with garlands of musambi and apples.
Today the entire stretch from velankanni church to besant nagar bus terminus is back to its old shops and pavement activities.
One missed the hussle and bustle of yesterday.
But then one spotted runners sporting tshirts and going round and round the locality.Could not read the logo on their t shirts, which would have told us what is their cause. But it requires some courage to run in chennai, in the muggy weather that we witness these days. No wonder some of them were dousing their heads and tshirts with the water given to them to sip during their marathon!